Television receiving system



May 18, 1954 D. J. ToMclK '2,679,001

TELEVISION RECEIVING SYSTEM Filed 001'.. v11 1950 @f @QW Mln/agg.

Patented May 1S, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TELEVISION RECEIVING SYSTEM Daniel J. Tomcik, South Bend, Ind., assigner to Electro-Voice Incorporated, Buchanan, Ind., a corporation of Indiana.

Application october 11, 195o, serial No. 189,596

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a television receiving system, and more particularly to such system which utiiizes a booster amplier.

In the fringe areas of television reception it has been found advantageous to provide additional amplification for the television signals by means of boosters. Such boosters generally have had tuning means of one form or another so that in order to provide the desired amplication the booster would have to be tuned at the same time that the television receiver was tuned. t, of course, is apparent that it would be desirable to provide a booster, which would not require switching or tuning. The present practice of using boosters also has the disadvantage that they are usually located adjacent the television receiver so that the noise picked up by the transmission line between the receiver and the antenna is amplified.

In accordance with the present invention it is proposed to obviate certain disadvantages encountered in the past practice of employing boosters in fringe area reception. By providing a broad band amplier it is possible to provide booster action without the necessity of switching or tuning the booster. By arranging for the location of the booster adjacent the antenna a better signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained, which is of particular advantage for fringe area reception.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved television booster having broad band transmission characteristics to obviate tuning or switching the booster when the receiver is changed to receive a diierent channel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a television booster arranged to 'operate over two separated frequency bands without switching means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a television booster located adjacent the antenna to obviate amplifying noise picked up by the transmission line.

A further object is to provide a television booster located adjacent the antenna without requiring additional electrical conductors to supply power thereto.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a television receiving system using booster amplification with a transmission line which conducts both power and signal energies.

A still further object is to provide a television booster having circuit means for obviating or minimizing the effects of variations or dissimilarities in wiring and in components,

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved push-pull ampliiier circuit utilizing untapped coupling transformers.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective representation of a television system embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a block and circuit diagram of the system shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a circuit diagram showing certain details of the amplifier employed in the systems shown in Figures l and 2 and also illustrating another application of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cabinet housing the apparatus and components used in the circuit of Figure 3.

In Figure l 'there is shown an antenna mast ii carrying a transverse support I2, which has at one end a reflector i3 and at the other end an antenna i4. The antenna M is connected by a transmission line i5 to a booster contained in the housing i6. A transmission line il extends from the booster i6 to a television receiver i8 and to a relay unit i3. The relay unit i9 has a pair of conductors 2| arranged to be connected to a suitable source of electric power, such as the conventional electric outlet. The electrical conductors or power cord 22 of the television receiver are plugged into a suitable receptacle in the relay unit i9.

In Figure 2 it will be noted that the transmission line il extends between the booster amplifier it and the receiver i8 and the relay unit i9. The transmission line i1 serves to supply low voltage alternating current to the power transformer 23 of the booster amplifier, which is isolated with respect to high frequency currents from the transmission line Il by a pair of choke coils 2li. A pair of capacitors 25 couples the transmission line il to the output circuit of the amplifier it. The capacitors 25, therefore, serve to isolate the output circuit of the ampliiier l5 from the power current following through the transmission line l1.

At the other end of the transmission line l1 a pair of capacitors 2S couple the line to the signal input terminals of the television receiver I8. The line l1 is connected through a pair of choke coils 27 to the relay unit i9, which supplies low voltage alternating current. The choke coils 21 isolate the relay unit with respect to the high frequency currents transmitted by the transmission line il. In the preferred embodiment the relay unit I9 contains a power transformer, which steps down the voltage to 24 volts. Thus 24 volt alternating current is transmitted through the line l to the transformer 23, which steps down the potential for the lament circuit and steps up the potential for the anode power.

The relay unit I9, therefore, contains a stepdown transformer 28, which is switched into circuit by a series relay .29 connected between the conductors 2l and 22.

The circuit diagram shown in Figure 3 gives the details of the signal amplifier contained 3 within the housing ES. The amplifier' is provided with a pair of input terminals 3| across which may be connected a matching resistor 32. The terminals 3i are connected to series inductors 33 and 3ft, which serve as primary windings of two transformers 35 and 36 respectively. The transformer 35 is designed to transmit television signals in the lower frequency range whereas the transformer 36 is arranged to transmit signals in the upper band of frequencies. In order that the higher television frequencies may not be attenuated by the high inductance of a primary winding 33 of the transformer 35, a capacitor 37 is arranged to bypass the winding 33 for the higher frequencies.

The transformer 35 has a secondary Winding 38, which is untapped and which has its outer terminals connected to the grids of a pair of vacuum tubes, which may be contained within a single envelope 3S. Push-pull amplification is utilized in order to provide a high L to C ratio. 'lhe inductance of the winding 33 is such that the distributed capacity of the tubes 33 tunes the circuit to transmita band of frequencies somewhat greater than those included between 55 to 88 megacycies. A pair of resistors 4i and i2 are connected series across the Winding i8 and the common juncture thereof connected to ground so that no mid-tap need be provided on the 'winding 38. The use of a pair of resistors 4I and d2 in the grid circuits of the tubes di) has the advantage or" minimizing or obviating the effects of unbalance due to capacitance to ground occurring by virtue of wiring variations or other dissimilarities.

The anodes of the tubes 39 are connected to an untapped primary winding [i3 of a transformer 44 having a secondary winding 65, which also is untapped. A pair of resistors fi and il are connected between the anodes of the tubes 39. The common juncture of these resistors is connected to the anode potential conductor 43. The common juncture between the resistors is connected to a grounded capacitorli. The cathodes of the tubes 29 are self-biased by a grounded resistor The push-pull circuit is neutralized by the use of a neutralizing capacitor 52 connected between the grid of one vacuum tube and the anode of the other. In a similar manner another neutralizing capacitor 53 is einployed between the anode of the first tube and the grid of the second tube.

The first stage of amplication is followed by a second stage of push-pull amplification, which includes two vacuum tubes contained within a single envelope The grids of the tubes are connected to the outer terminals of the secondary winding i5 of the transformer 51.1, which are also connected to the pair of series resistors 55 and 56 having the common juncture grounded.

The anodes of the vacuum tubes contained within the envelope 5d are connected to the primary winding 57 of a transformer 53 having a secondary winding 5S. The primary and secondwindings of the transformer 53 are untapped. A pair of resistors 6i and 62 are connected in series across the winding 51 and their common juncture is connected to a grounded capacitor E3 and to the anode potential conductor EL?. The tubes contained within the envelope il are selfbiased by a grounded resistor S5.

The higher television frequences in the range of 174 to 216 rnegacycies are amplified by two similar push-pull ampliers connected to the secondary winding 66 of the transformer 3%.

The outer terminals of the secondary winding 66 are connected to the grids of two vacuum tube elements contained within the envelope 67. A pair of resistors S8 and 69 are connected across the winding B and have their common juncture connected to ground. The anodes of the tube 67 are connected to the primary winding 'H of a transformer 'i2 having a secondary winding T3. A pair of resistors 'I4 and 'l5 are connected in series across the winding 'H and have their common juncture connected to the anode potential conductor i3 and to a grounded capacitor '76. A self-biasing resistor 'I7 is connected between ground and the cathodes of the vacuum tube elements 67. The push-pull amplifier formed by the use of these components and the vacuum tube Si is neutralized by the use of capacitors 73 and it connected between the anodes of the triodes within the element 61 and the grids of the opposite triode.

The secondary winding 'i3 of the transformer '12 is connected to the grids of a pair of triodes contained within an envelope 8l. A pair of resistors 32 and 83 having their common juncture grounded or connected across the winding 13. The anodes of the triodes within the envelope 8i are connected to the primary winding 84 of a transformer having a secondary winding 86, Two similar resistors 8'1 and 88 are connected across the winding 8f3 and have their common juncture connected to the anode potential conductor E@ and a grounded capacitor 89. A selfbiasing resistor Si is provided between ground and the cathodes of the triodes within the envelope 85. Neutralizing capacitors 82 and 83 are associated with the ancdes and grids of the triode elements within the envelope 8l.

The secondary windings 59 and 86 of the transformers 58 and 85 are connected in series and to the output terminals 92, which may be bridged by a balancing resistor 93. A high frequency shunt path is provided by a capacitor 913 connected across the secondary winding 59. From this it will be appreciated that in both the input and output circuits means are provided for efficiently receiving and transmitting two widely separated frequency bands such as those now encountered in present television reception. The Various features which characterize the lower frequency amplier shown in the upper half of the circuit diagram in Figure 3 are, of course, embodied in the latter cascade push-pull amplifier for the higher frequencies.

The push-pull amplifier heretofore described is contained within the housing i6 of Figures l and 2 where it is desired to have the amplifier as close as possible to the receiving antenna. In other areas where a booster may be desirable but no appreciabie noise is picked up by the transmission line, a more economical arrangement, of course, is to have the booster iocated adjacent the television receiver. This may be done and yet, since no tuning is required, this booster would offer some of the same advantages heretofore mentioned in connection with the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2. Where the amplifier is to be located adjacent the receiver there is provided a relay unit mi, which includes a pair of conductors H32 terminating in a suitable plug it for connection to an outlet receptacle. One of the conductors 402 is connected through the winding i 04 of a relay having a pair of normally open contacts H05. The winding lli of the relay is connected in series between the plug E63 and a receptacle H36, which receives the power cord plug attached to the conductors 22 of the television receiver. Thus whenever the receiver is turned on, current will iiow through the winding It of the relay thus causing it to close its contacts. A suitable iilter capacitor It? may be connected across the contacts of the receptacle IGS to minimize the effect of any stray radio frequency energy entering the power cord 22 from the receiver Iii. One of the contacts of the relay 05 is connected to the upper terminal of the winding i065, and the other contact is connected to one terminal of the primary winding of a transformer 109. The other terminal of the primary winding 608 is connected to the other side of the plug 103. The transformer m9 has two secondary windings Ill and H2. The secondary winding I II supplies current for the filaments of the vacuum tubes 3B, 5d, 6l and 8l. The high voltage secondary Winding H2 has a terminal connected through a current limiting resistor H3, which is in series with a rectifier iid, which in accordance with present practice may be of the selenium type. The output of the rectifier H4 passes through a smoothing resistor Mii, which has one terminal connected to the anode potential conductors 48 and Sli. Suitable nlter capacitors H6 and iI'i are connected from the terminals of the nlter resistor I I to ground.

Where the apparatus is to be located adjacent the television receiver, it may be housed within a suitable cabinet H8 shown in Figure 4. On the one side of the cabinet two terminal plates are provided with the input connections 3i and the output connections 92. On the opposite side of the cabinet there is connected the conductor cord it? having at its end a plug Itri. Adjacent the point where the conductors I02 pass into the cabinet H8, there is provided the outlet receptacle l.

From the foregoing it is believed that it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantageous results are obtained by employing the system shown in Figure 2. In the actual physical embodiment of the system shown in Figure 2 it, of course, would be understood that the capacitors are contained within the housing provided for the booster I6. It furthermore will be appreciated that the relay unit I9 contains the capacitors 2G and the inductors 21. While the circuit arrangement illustrated employs pairs of capacitors and inductors at each end of the transmission line il, a comparable eiiect can be obtained by the use of a single capacitor and a single inductor at each end of the line Ii. Such an embodiment might be dictated where economy is of prime consideration.

It furthermore will be appreciated that the unit housing the booster I6 has a transformer 2t provided with secondary windings, which correspond to the windings I I I and I I2 of the transformer E09 of Figure 3. Therciore, the housing i0 shown in Figure 1 includes all of the circuit elements shown in Figure 3, except that portion of the circuit to the left of the terminals of the primary winding I08 of the transformer |09. 1n addition, the container or housing IE includes at least one inductor, such as the inductor 24, and one capacitor, such as the capacitor 25.

While it has been found preferable in the arrangements shown in Figures 2 and 3 to utilize relay means for supplying power to the booster amplifier, the same effects could be produced by a manually operated switch wherever economy dictates a reduction in the number of components employed.

While for the purposes of illustrating and describing the present invention certain preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, since such variations in the circuit elements and physical arrangements are contemplated as may be commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

i. The combination for television reception comprising an antenna, a television receiver, a broad band cascade multistage push-pull vacuum tube high gain ampliner located adjacent and connected to said antenna for amplifying television signals, a transmission line interconnecting the signal output of said amplifier with the signal input of said receiver, a source of low frequency alternating current for said receiver, a normally open circuit relay connected between said source and said receiver so as to be closed whenever said receiver is energized, a step-down low voltage output transformer controlled by said relay and connected bet veen said source and said transmission line, means connected between said transmission. line and said transformer to isolate said transformer from television signal frequencies, means connected between said line and said amplifier to isolate the power circuit of said amplifier from television signal freduencies, means connected between said line and said receiver to isolate the receiver signal input from said alternating current, and means connected between said line and said amplifier to isolate said amplifier signal output from said alternating current.

2. The combination for television reception comprising a television receiver, a remotely located television antenna, a parallel multi-stage push-pull vacuum tube high gain broad band amplifier located adjacent and connected to said antenna, a transmission line interconnecting the anodes of said vacuum tube amplifier and the signal input terminals of said receiver, a source of commercial alternating current, a relay having an actuating coil serially connected between said receiver power circuit and said source so as to be actuated whenever said receiver is supplied with alternating current, a step-down low voltage output transformer controlled by said relay and connected between said source and said transmission line adjacent said receiver, a pair of television frequency choke inductors interposed between said line and said transformer, a pair of television frequency inductors interposed between said line and the power circuit of said amplier, a pair of capacitors interposed between said line and the signal input terminals of said X receiver, and a pair of capacitors connected between said line and the anodes of said vacuum tube amplifier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,487,451 Farrington Mar. 18, 1924 1,956,582 Marshall May 1, 1934 2,105,925 Merriam Jan. 18, 1938 2,129,313 Whitelock Sept. 6, 1938 2,206,820 Mydlil July 2, 1940 2,370,483 Mufy Feb. 27, 1945 2,476,803 Booth July 19, 1949 2,578,973 Hills Dec. 18, 1951 2,611,082 .Anderson Sept. 16, 1952 

